At least four people were killed on Monday evening when a gas cylinder exploded at a fuel station in Orji, Owerri North local government area of Imo State.
Several other customers who were buying fuel and other petroleum products were also seriously wounded in the explosion.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Enwerem, who confirmed the incident, said police has initiated full scale investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said it was too early to reach any conclusion on the matter.
He said: โWe heard about the explosion in a popular petrol station around Orji and four people have been confirmed dead. Police had rescued the wounded persons and taken them to the hospital.โ